Coast Guard May 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard proposes to revise regulations related to the design, certification, inspection, and testing of cranes. These regulations apply to cranes installed on Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODUs), Offshore Supply Vessels (OSVs), and floating Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) facilities. This revision would update industry standards incorporated by reference with more recent versions, which are used by industry and incorporated in Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement regulations. Additionally, the Coast Guard proposes to revise regulations regarding certification, inspection, and testing of cranes by allowing use of additional organizations to act in lieu of Coast Guard marine inspectors.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on Lake Michigan in Chicago Harbor, Chicago Illinois. This safety zone is intended to restrict vessels from a portion of Chicago Harbor due to a Fireworks display. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect the surrounding public and vessels from the hazards associated with the fireworks display.

The Coast Guard proposes to revise and reorganize the regulations that govern the operation and administration of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, a uniformed, volunteer, non-military organization chartered by Congress. The proposed changes would conform the regulatory language to changes in the laws governing the Coast Guard Auxiliary, clarify the Auxiliary's organization, status, and role in Coast Guard operations, and update provisions on liability protection for Auxiliary members assigned to Coast Guard duty.

The Coast Guard will enforce various safety zones for annual marine events in the Captain of the Port Detroit zone from May 24, 2013, through August 31, 2013. Enforcement of these zones is necessary and intended to ensure the safety of life on the navigable waters immediately prior to, during, and immediately after certain fireworks events. During the aforementioned period, the Coast Guard will enforce restrictions upon, and control movement of, vessels in a specified area immediately prior to, during, and immediately after certain fireworks events. During the enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter any safety zone without permission of the Captain of the Port.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the Illinois River from Mile Marker 187.2 to Mile Marker 285.9. This zone is intended to place restrictions on vessels due to current extreme high-water conditions. This safety zone is necessary to protect the general public, levee systems, vessels, and tows from the hazards associated with flood waters and potential catastrophic failure of the Marseilles Dam.

In accordance with Coast Guard regulations, Martin Operating Partnership LP has submitted a Letter of Intent and a Waterway Suitability Assessment to the Coast Guard Captain of the Port, Port Arthur regarding the company's proposed expansion of its Liquefied Hazardous Gas (LHG) facility in Beaumont, Texas, and increased LHG marine traffic in the associated waterway. The Coast Guard is notifying the public of this action to solicit public comments on the proposed increase in LHG marine traffic in Beaumont, Texas.

The Coast Guard will enforce safety zones in the Captain of the Port New York Zone on the specified dates and times. This action is necessary to ensure the safety of vessels and spectators from hazards associated with fireworks displays. During the enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter the safety zones without permission of the Captain of the Port (COTP).

The Coast Guard is establishing a special local regulation on the waters of Bahia de Boqueron in Boqueron, PR during the 50 Aniversario Balneario de Boqueron, a high speed boat race. The event is scheduled to take place on Sunday, May 5, 2013. Approximately 40 high- speed power boats will be participating in the races. It is anticipated that 5 spectator crafts will be present during the races. The special local regulation is necessary for the safety of race participants, participant vessels, spectators, and the general public during the event. The special local regulation will establish the following three areas: a high speed boat race area, where all persons and vessels, except those persons and vessels participating in the high-speed boat races, are prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within; a buffer zone around the race area, where all persons and vessels, except those persons and vessels enforcing the buffer zone or authorized participants transiting to their authorized the race area, are prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within; and a spectator area, where all vessels are prohibited from anchoring and from traveling in excess of wake speed, unless authorized by the Captain of the Port San Juan or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the draw of the US 17/George P. Coleman Memorial Swing Bridge across the York River, at mile 7.0, between Gloucester Point and Yorktown, VA. The deviation is necessary to facilitate electrical work on the George P. Coleman Memorial Swing Bridge. This deviation allows the drawbridge to remain in the closed to navigation position during the deviation period.

In accordance with Coast Guard regulations, Sunoco Partners Marketing and Terminals has submitted a Letter of Intent and a Waterway Suitability Assessment to the Coast Guard Captain of the Port, Port Arthur regarding the company's proposed expansion of its Liquefied Hazardous Gas (LHG) facility in Nederland, Texas, and increased LHG marine traffic in the associated waterway. The Coast Guard is notifying the public of this action to solicit public comments on the proposed increase in LHG marine traffic in Nederland, Texas.

The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone on the navigable waters of Figure Eight Causeway Channel, Figure Eight Island, NC in support of the fireworks display for a private wedding. This action is necessary to protect the life and property of the maritime public and spectators from the hazards posed by aerial fireworks displays. Entry into or movement within this safety zone during the enforcement period is prohibited without approval of the Captain of the Port.

The Coast Guard is establishing a special local regulation on the waters of the Atlantic Ocean east of Cocoa Beach, Florida during the Space Coast Super Boat Grand Prix, a series of high-speed boat races. The event is scheduled to take place on Saturday and Sunday, May 18-19, 2013, and approximately 30 high-speed race boats are anticipated to participate in the races, and approximately 200 spectator vessels are expected to attend the event. This special local regulation is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters of the United States during the races.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish safety zones in the Captain of the Port Sault Sainte Marie Zone. These proposed safety zones are intended to restrict vessels from certain portions of water areas within Sector Sault Sainte Marie Captain of the Port zone. These temporary safety zones are necessary to protect spectators and vessels from the hazards associated with fireworks displays and aircraft involved in an air show.